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Saturday, July 12, 2008

The Arrogance of Being Karl

Once again, the Bush Mob are determined to assert the dubious implication that they are above the law.Would someone please explain to these assholes that one can only go beneath the law?On Thursday, Karl Rove ignored a subpoena to testify before a congressional committee which is trying to find out the truth behind the firings of nine U.S. Attorneys in December of 2006. It has been testified that he was involved in those firings and Congress wants to know the extent of that involvement. They also want to know what role he played in the political persecution and subsequent imprisonment of former Alabama Governor, Democrat Don Segelman. Segelman, you'll recall, was convicted by a jury of twelve Alabamans of average intelligence (average for Alabama, that is) of accepting a five-hundred thousand dollar check from a man named Richard Scrushy that went directly into a state fund that benefited secondary education. In exchange for this contribution, Segelman reappointed Scruchy to sit on the board of directors of a state hospital - a position he had held under three previous governors! This is the "crime" that sent Governor Segelman to a federal prison in Louisiana. (And just how many ambassadorships do you think George W. Bush has forked over throughout the years in exchange for campaign contributions?) He was a victim of Bush's politicized Department of Justice. Thankfully, this perversion of our justice system has since been corrected. Wiser heads have since prevailed and Segelman is now a free man after serving nearly one long year of a seven year sentence. That something like this could happen in the USA in the twenty-first century should have every thinking man and woman in this doomed country in a blind, fucking rage. Unfortunately, the story received very little attention from the main stream, corporate-controlled media.Incredibly, your fellow citizens seem to be more concerned with Christie Brinkley's divorce trial and American Idol. Is this a great country, or what?Initially, Rove informed the Committee that he would testify only behind closed doors and not under oath. When refused that request, he then claimed executive privilege. I don't know about you, but I have this funny feeling that our man Karl has a thing or two to hide. Call it a hunch.

In Rove's defence, Fred Fielding, a counselor to the First Fool, said in a written letter to Congress:"A present or former advisor to the president is constitutionally immune from compelled congressional testimony that relate to his or her official duties....Mr. Rove is not required to appear in response to the Committee's subpoena. Accordingly, the president has directed him not to do so."That is utter nonsense. Only a sitting president can claim executive privilege and only in cases where national security is involved.That's pretty much how the Supreme Court of Warren Burger ruled against President Nixon way the hell back in 1973. When Tricky Dick claimed that his secret Oval Office recordings were off limits to any nosey Senate investigating committee, the Supremes informed the Trickster that a president and his subordinates are, in fact, subject to congressional inquiry. Thirty-five years after the fact, judicial precedence means not a thing to George W. Bush and Company. You're not really surprised by that, are you? Ah! I thought not.Aside from their monumental corruption and incompetence, what will mainly be remembered about this disgusting administration will be what can only be described as their constitutional arrogance - an arrogance personified in the person of Karl Rove, a man who has been described as "Bush's Brain".All of the dirty tricks, every single one of the smear campaigns and illegal persecutions that have been conducted by this White House, have originated from the office of Karl Rove. During the Republican primaries of 2000, it was Rove who got the word out in South Carolina that John McCain's beautiful brown-skinned daughter (who was in fact adopted from one of Mother Theresa's orphanages) was actually the result of his liaison with a black prostitute. A whole hell of a lot of South Carolinian Republicans - just about the stupidest creatures currently walking on two feet - swallowed the lie without question. In 2002 he also helped defeat Georgia congressman Max Cleland - a genuine American hero who lost three limbs in the Vietnam war - via a shameful political ad that juxtaposed his image with those of Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. And let us not forget that it was he who organized the now-totally-discredited Swiftboat Veterans For Truth against John Kerry during the 2004 campaign. American politics, a dirty business to begin with, has been utterly soiled by Karl Rove.History tells us that Rove is not totally unique to the American political scene. But were you to put history's most talented manipulators of statecraft and politics in a single room, Karl Rove would definitely stand out. As I wrote on "The Rant" almost a year ago on August 14, 2007:"Say what you want about the man, it can not be argued that Karl Rove is a political genius. When all of the dust is settled, it will have to be conceded that he was able to take a pathetic moron like George W. Bush and not only make him look presidential, he was able to manipulate a huge segment of the American people into thinking that sending the little thug to the Executive Mansion was a really neat idea! Several presidents in American history have had Rove-like equivalents at their beck and call: William McKinley had Mark Hanna; Franklin D. Roosevelt had Louis Howe; Harry S Truman had Clark Clifford....But nowhere - nowhere - in history is there anyone who even approaches Karl Rove in terms of pure Machiavellian intrigue. Hats off to the man."

When a serious investigation into the felonies committed by these people is finally launched, it's a sure bet that Karl Rove's fingerprints will be everywhere. I think I am starting to understand why criminal charges against Rove or anyone else in this nightmare of an administration have yet to materialize. A president of the United States can not pardon someone for a crime committed unless the person in question has already been indicted or convicted. Whether or not a genius like our president is fully able to understand this is entirely beside the point. My guess is that the man is so gut-wrenchingly arrogant, he might even be under the illusion that a president can pardon himself. Is that the reason why the 110th Congress have been dragging their feet as far as bringing these people to justice is concerned? Are they waiting for Bush to be safely barricaded in his bunker in Crawford, Texas before they go in for the kill? Time will tell.

Rove is not the first member of Team Bush to ignore a Congressional subpoena. Earlier this year, former White House counselor Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolton were also instructed by our esteemed neanderthal-in-chief not to testify before Congress. As a result, they became the first persons to receive a Contempt ofCongress citation in a quarter of a century. Incredibly, the previous year Bush had nominated Ms. Miers to fill the retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's seat on the Supreme Court. He had to withdraw the nomination when the extreme right wing of the GOP (not known for their impressive standards) decided that she was even too mediocre for them! I know what some of you may be thinking: "Aww, hell! Tom Degan's just makin' this stuff up! The guy's a laugh riot!" So help me Mitch Miller, it's all true. Every word of it.Again, one can only hope and pray that the House and Senate are waiting for this administration to end before bringing these despicable people to justice. I would never again get a good night's sleep knowing that these despicable bastards and bitches (Hi, Condi!) were able to get away their crimes against the American people in general and the Iraqi people in particular.Assuming they don't attempt to suspend the Constitution (and don't think for a minute that they aren't considering it), George W. Bush, Richard B. Cheney, Karl Rove and the entire cast of this poorly scripted, extremely dark comedy will be gone soon.Very shortly, most of the characters in this hideous farce will be retiring to their gated communities in the Washington suburbs - lounging on their decks and looking out on the manicured lawns that are kept up and landscaped by low-paid and overworked Mexican laborers. The majority of them will make an attempt to cash in on their years as players in the Bush White House, writing their memoirs, desperately trying to whitewash their respective roles within the most criminally incompetent, murderously corrupt administration in the history of human stupidity. Ultimately they will be unable to escape the utter contempt of their heirs. It's a sure bet that Jenna and Barbara Bush's yet-to-be-born children will spend their entire lives disassociating themselves from and denying their relationship to their infamous grandfather. I know what I'm talking about here. I am related to Roger Brooke Taney, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court who in 1857 wrote the Dred Scott decision - the worst, most inexcusable legal opinion ever concocted in the Halls of Justice. I only mention this because it is a part of my heritage that cannot be denied. Trust me on this one, folks, I certainly don't go aroundbraggingabout it! .If there is one thing that two centuries of the American Experiment has taught us, it is that one cannot escape the judgement of history. Posterity's glare is a harsh one indeed.Tom DeganGoshen, NYtomdegan@frontiernet.netAFTERTHOUGHT:A couple of months ago, Bill Moyers gave a speech in which he talked about the mainstream news media, how it has been taken over by Corporate America and what you and I must do to reclaim the people's airwaves. It has to be one of the most inspiring talks that I have ever had the pleasure to listen to. It must be seen. Better still, it must be heard. Here's a link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0r71L7cojE

19 Comments:

The arrogance of everyone in this current administration is simply beyond belief. It is absolutely incredible that Clinton was impeached for a damned blow job, although his impeachment was more for lying about it than the actual act itself, yet these crooks and criminals seem to be getting off completely unscathed.

I hope to God that you are correct and that there will be a massive investigation when the regime changes. Yet a fear running underneath all of this is will we really get rid of these thugs after the election? They have so much to hide and cover up that again I am not discounting that they might manufacture some huge plot to shut down the government, institute martial law and remain in power as dictators. I know that may seem farfetched, but they are not so stupid as to believe that their criminal acts will not someday come to light and they are just ruthless enough to do whatever it takes to prevent being brought to justice. We are dealing with people that would give credit to Hitler and his SS troops.

Charles,Here is the incredible thing: That does not seem far-fetched in the least. To tell you the truth, a day doesn't go by that I don't consider that as a very real and ominous possibility. There is no depth to which these people won't sink.

I've long thought that a great TV show would be "American Scandal" where amateur contestants compete to document and show the most outrageous and contemptible scandals in current politics. Of course that isn't going to happen, our mainstream media is already too far gone to the dark side to consider something so purposeful and beneficial and truthful.

The only unfettered media I can find these days are the tiny weekly papers and radio stations in local communities, run by local folks. These routinely publicize the tales of woe and disgruntled opinions of citizens that are brave enough to risk the consequences of speaking out. And sites like The Rant, of course.

Yea, sure, Taney sucked! His name is up there with all the rest of the assholes in history! And never let it be said that the man did no more than he was paid to do! Or had no thought in his head with out a receipt with it! Because he didn't!

He did a villain's service, in a villain's name, with a villain's coin to pay for the deed!

It was all that was expected of him, and no more! A foregone conclusion before the court ever assembled!

What Dred Scott DID do was stir up the Abolitionists enough to drag the subject of slavery out in the open whether slavery wanted to come or not!

And the funny thing is, that the names of the sons of Peter Blow, who promised their childhood friend, that they would free him, and paid ALL the legal fees in Dred Scott's struggle, have been lost to history, and no record seems to exist of them! They were the real heroes here!

It was because of them, that a man who spent his entire life in bondage died free! It was because of them that Dred Scott was given resources to fight his battle!

And win or lose, that battle was given all hell, and then some! The bad guys bought that one, because that's how life works sometimes! But the good guys won the war, and slavery was erased!

Dred Scott was just a step back on the way forward. That's also the way life works sometimes! Sometimes,you've got to see something in danger before you get up the spirit to fight for it! It put Lincoln in the White House, turned the country on it's ear, and shook slavery out of it!

First rule of life, is you win nothing without a fight!

Second rule, is that the first fight is seldom the last one!

Sometimes, you have to lose something, to get something better!

Now I'm going to get myself ready to come back, and rip on Karl Rove, because you know I really, REALLY want to!

You mention - again - that Americans are more interested in celebrity news and American Idol than American politics. First point in the public's defense - celebrity news is all you get in MSM. I can't even watch this crap because there is no news on the news. I turn to alternative means of information and read all I can, and I am still not sure who to trust.

Secondly, we the people are not being heard. Our Congress is supposed to represent the American public and they are not doing it. I have written letters, signed petitions, posted on blogs, and attempted to speak to my friends, family and co-workers about important matters. ALL of this is pointless. NO ONE IS LISTENING! They don't have to listen to us because, afterall, we are idiots!

I think we have hit a saturation point with information. I, myself, am ready to buy a cabin in the mountains and hunker down with no electricity or contact with the outside world. Sometimes, when the future is so uncertain and democracy might live or die, it seems easier to look away. Sad to say, I am sure this is how most Germans felt during the rise of fascism.

Keep up the good work, Tom. You speak for many of us who feel voiceless in this new age of "information".

Jo,Thanks for the kind words. You also make some very good ponts. It is the main stream media that is responsible for the mess we're in. I remember the Saturday Night Maascre of October 1973, John Chancellor barely concealing his outrage....What happened to that kind of righteous indignation. Thank goodness for Keith Olbermann!

Cheez Whiz is truly nasty so I'm happy that you are not responsible for its existence. Last night I had a dream in which Eric Idle was serenading me with the FCC Song. I have two questions. Do you still have an interest in world peace and, if you listen to NPR, are you a freeloader or do you contribute? I have a best actress award from my high school drama club, it's downstairs displayed proudly with my bowling trophies.

Having lived outside the USA for many years as a Humanitarian Aid Relief Coordinator & Educator for First Responders...I can tell you that when I did return it was to a nation that was hardly recognizable. Our nation has been reduced to fearmongering and suspicion.

My career took me into numerous nations across four continents. In the midst of that I was in an abusive marriage. It was only by the hand of the Lord that the work was successful and is still flourishing.

Once back in the USA the bottom dropped out of my life...yet...I was able (with the help of the police) to escape my abuser.

I look around our nation and it appears the present administration has fallen asleep at the wheel and fiddled while Rome burned. The things this administration is allowed to get away with boggles my mind.

People can be 'spoon fed' gradually and not notice the subtle changes...until it's too late. I want to shout...WAKE UP!

Dear Kathryn,What you had to say reminds me of what Al Gore talked about in the film, "An Inconveniant Truth": Throw a frog in boiling water and he will immediately jump out. But place a frog in luke warm water and gradually turn up the heat and he will stay there until....until....someone pulls him out (Good ol' Al. He wasn;t gonna let that poor little froggie fry!)

Tom Degan

PS - I would suggest that everone have a look at Kathryn's thoughtful blog dedicated to domestic violence.

I am not so certain. I spend nights listening to news from a multitude of countries, via CBC or downloading their podcasts for daylight listening:

http://www.cbc.ca/overnight/

It seems that the rest of the world has condemned the Bush Administration as well, however, some portions of the world, and it is justifiable to say, hold AMERICANS, as individuals to the same Sword of Damoclese dangling over the criminals in Washington D.C. AND WHY SHOULDN'T THEY?

I have stopped encouraging MORONS to vote because they are insipid enough to believe "Sound-bite Politics".

See where that go us as individuals and as a FAILING DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC? How long will the USA EXIST as set out for, and designed by those who signed the Declaration of Independence and put mettle into the United State Constitution?

I dare say, from the way it looks to the world, and from my perch in Brandon, Manitoba CANADA, the cord on the life support equipment has been "tripped" upon and unplugged.

Someone better hear the beepers going off before 300 million plus people and their aspirations die off to the tiny population that "tripped."

The world and I, at this moment, do not see much hope. Obama? Yes. But you can flog a dead horse all you want, the crop won't cause it to rise and run.

Tom,I did not finish reading your article but I know the truth behind Governor Seigleman and Schrushys ... If you seek to know be prepared and come ready as I think you know those men who put them there will do anything and destroy all who seek JUSTICE. "Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and all thy soul, lean not unto thy own understanding and he will direct thy paths"Ted Allen Young IItedayoung@gmail.com

Tom,If you seek to know the truth then seek me out. Be prepared, I am unworthy but there are reasons behind all and all serve The Lord good and bad. "He sends the rain on the just and the unjust alike". "Seek and ye shall find, knock and it the door shall be opened unto you." Tell Don, These unjust, evil men's time is soon to come.Ted Young

Tom,If you seek to know the truth then seek me out. Be prepared, I am unworthy but there are reasons behind all and all serve The Lord good and bad. "He sends the rain on the just and the unjust alike". "Seek and ye shall find, knock and it the door shall be opened unto you." Tell Don, These unjust, evil men's time is soon to come.Ted Young

Tom,If you seek to know the truth then seek me out. Be prepared, I am unworthy but there are reasons behind all and all serve The Lord good and bad. "He sends the rain on the just and the unjust alike". "Seek and ye shall find, knock and it the door shall be opened unto you." Tell Don, These unjust, evil men's time is soon to come.Ted Young